Feeding molten glass



Nov. 11, 1930* K. E. PEILER 1,781,340

FEEDING MOLTEN GLASS n F le OV- 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fnvevzor: KQrZZTPeZ'Zer 5 fifm 7 Atty.

Nov. 11, 1930.

K. E. PEILER FEEDING MOLTEN GLASS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n m mm .m w m Filed Nov. 5, 1924 a Erin Patented Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- KABL E. PEILER, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HARTFORD-EH- P IRE COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE FEEDING MOLTEN GLASS Application filed November 3, 1924.. Serial No. 747,503.

' around which the glass flows while it is issu-- ing from the outlet. The adhesion of the glass to this implement furnishes support to thejssuing glass in addition to the support afiorded by the walls of the outlet, and the provision of such additional support permits larger and longer mold charges to be severed in suspension and at slower speeds 29 than would be possible without the internal support. Another object of my'invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for feeding molten glass in which the rate of discharge 5 throughout the cross-section of the discharge orifice is substantially equalized by means of the implement referred to above, thereby facilitating the production of mold charges of substantially cylindrical form.

vide a method and an apparatus for feeding molten glass in-which a comparatively low head ofglass may be maintained above the discharge outlet. 7

This invention contemplates the use of a container for the molten glass, such for example, as a forehearth connected to a melting tank furnace, the container having a discharge outlet through which the glass is C) permitted to flow downward by gravity, unmodified by any periodic impulse means such as are frequently used in glass-feeding operations. The glass preferably'issues from the discharge outlet into a heated chamber,

' 13 or the lower end of the outlet is otherwise heated, and such external heat, causes the glass in the outlet to be kept h'ot, thereby preventing the glass from chilling adjacent to the walls of the outlet. This tends to pro- 53 duoe a uniform discharge throughout the A further object of my invention is to pro- .shown in Fig. 5; and V entire cross-sectional area of the outlet, and permits the formation of substantially cylindrical mold charges which are severed periodically by means of suitable shears.

The structure described in the preceding paragraph is shown in my co-pending application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 823,694, filed March 10, 1914. The present invention adds to the structure of that co-pending application a stationary supporting and regulating member in the nature of a needle, the end of which is considerably smaller in diameter than the discharge outlet and projects into or through the discharge' outlet.

This added structure is disclosed in mycopending prior applications, Serial No. 294,792. and Serial No. 294,793, both filed May 5, 1919, of which this application, therefore, is ,a co'htinuation in part. The needle is not intended to be reciprocated periodically, but is preferably provided with adjustments for changing its vertical position, and also for changing its lateral posi tion with respect to the outlet.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through a working embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1; p Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view showing a suitable construction of the discharge chamber; f

4. is. a longitudinal vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 1, but showing another structure for supporting and adjusting the needle; 1 I V Fig. "5 is a'front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front view of a portion of the needle-adjusting mechanism Fig. 7 is a plan view of the needle supportingand' adjusting device shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of-the drawing, the numeral 6 indicates a glass melting tank furnace from which the glass flows along a conduit or forehearth 5 provided with a downwardly opening discharge outlet and with suit:

able temperature-controlling means which may be of any suitable arrangement, according to approved glass-feeder practice, and may include heating flames, cooling blasts, and heat-retaining insulation, as desired. The conduit may be arranged so that the glass flows by gravity as herein shown, or its How may be accelerated, ,intermitted or otherwise regulated by suitable paddles, displace/rs, or

otherwise. I find, however, that simple gravity flow from the tank 6 to the dischargeoutlet 7 is entirely suflicient for Ordinary operation, and such gravity flow may be regulated by means of a movable gate 8 suspended by a cable 9 and adjustable vertically by means of any suitable arrangement. The gate may hang freely from the cable 9, as shown, or if desired,'ofl-set ledges or rabbets may be provided, as shown at 11 in dotted lines on Fig.1, and as described below in connection with .Fig. 3, for preventing the gate 8 from bein carried toward the outlet 7 by the flowing g ass. i

The space below the outlet 7 is preferably surrounded by walls 15 to form a heat-enclosing chamber 16. The bottom of the chamber 16 is open sufiiciently to allow the 1 several charges of glass to fall freely into a suitable receptacle, which .is herein shown as a mold 17 mounted upon a table o'rplatform 18 which may be the work table of'a pressing or blowing machine.

hev chamber lfi'isemade large enough to allow'the drops orgathers of glass to form beneath the outlet 7 to the required size without touching the walls of the chamber, thus leaving room for a gaseous envelope to surkl'OllIld the pendant glass. The heat of the with a hot flame which may pass out from the chamber 16 through a flue 20 to the space coal gas of su-fliciently high fuel value, it may molten glass may be relied upon to maintain the chamber 16 at an elevated temperature, but; prefer to supplement the heat derived pass vely from the glass by active heat produced by suitable burners or other means. For example, a burner nozzle 19 is shown in Fig. 1, and this nozzle is preferably so disposed as to blow the flame along the inner sides of'the walls 15 of the chamber 16, so as to-surround the suspended charges of glass above the glass in the conduit 5. v

If the tank furnace 6 is of the continuous type fired with natural gas or with cleaned be operated with a very low positive outward pressure or a neutral pressure in the firing space of the nose or working end of the furnace, or it may, under other conditions, even be operated ,with a negative pressure in this firing space. Under these conditions, the flame and combustion gases from the forehearth 5 may be drawn or blown inwandly to the interior of'the firing space in the nose of the tank 6, and-will thence pass to the furnace stack with the other furnace gases.

i from becomin If, however, the tank furnace'6 is fired with crudeproducer gas under certain conditions, or is so proportioned as to prevent the draught adjustments necessary for operating under neutral or negativepressure, a positive pressure or. sting-on condition might exist in the firing space of the nose, against which flames and gases from the forehearth could not be blown to the interior of the firing space. In this instance, the flames and gases from the forehearth may be .led

through a suitable opening in the top 23 of the conduit 5, or to a forehearth chimney,

if such a chimney is provided. If, instead 1 of a continuous melting furnace, a day tank mentloned above, or in any other well-known or desired manner. These shear blades may be cooled by means of water sprays, air blasts, or otherwise, in order to prevent them overheated.

Supported a ove and in line with the dis- I charge outlet 7 is a member 30, herein referred to as a supporting needle. The lower end 31 of this needle is reduced in diameter shaped, as desired. The enlargement or shoulder 33 between the end portion 31 and 4 the body of the needle may be suitably shaped to cooperate with-the upper-edge of the outlet 7 so that the member 30 may lowered to seat in the outlet and stop the flow of glass and the tip 32 may be pointed, or otherwise.

whenit isgdesired to shut down the appa;

ratus. The lower end of the needle 30, and particularly the enlarged portion just mentioned, may also be used, if desired, to act as a throttle and to control by its position the discharge, of glass from the orifice under the head existin in the container. 4

The needle 30 is kept stationary during the operation of the-apparatus, but is preferably adjustably supported as follows:-First, its

support is guided for vertical movement with a relatively delicate adjustment so that the vertical position of the implement may be adjusted as desired. Second, the support or holder for the implement is adapted to be adjusted horizontally, preferably in two directions substantially .at right angles to Ieach other, so that the axis of the implement maybe moved with respect to the axis of the outlet for the purpose of either aligning iao the oint'of the implement centrally with the ori 'ce 7, or else displacing its position out of .-rod 38 is arranged to slide vertically in the bearings 39 and its vertical position may be adjusted by means ofa hand wheel 40.

. The'arm 37 may be swung around the rod 38-to produce lateral adjustment of the needle in a lengthwise direction. For adjusting the arm 37 laterally, the hanger 35 is movable in the slot 36, and is fixed in adjusted position therein by means of a nut 41 and a washer 42. Another arrangement for adjustin the needle both vertically and horizonta y is shownin Figs. 4 to 7 and provides a more accurate and convenient adjustment than the arrangement of Figs. 1 and 2, which has just been described. In Figs. 4 to 7 the needle. indicated at 50, is carried by an arm 51 and the connection between the needle and the arm is such that the needle may be easily removed without disturbing the adjustment of the arm. For thispurpos, the upper end of the needle is clamped in a removable chuck 52 having at its upper end a circular plate 53' which is received and supported in an opening 54 in the end of the arm 51 and is held down on its seat by a clamp 55 .pressed uponIthe plate 53 by a hand screw 56. The clamp 55 is slottedto receive the screw 56,

so that when the screw is loosened the clamp may he slid back from over the top of the plate 53, thereby permitting the needle to he removed. I

The arm 51 is guided for vertical adjustment by a sliding rod 57, the arm 51 being adjustably clamped tq a bracket 58rfixedto.

the upper endof the rod. This construction permits adjusting the arm 51 laterally in any directibn to bring the lower endiof the needle 50 'to any desired position with relation to the outlet 7 by sliding the arm 51 on its bracket 58 or swinging it onthe rod 57, or by a combination of these adjustments. The rod 57 is received and guided in vertically spaced bearings 59 and 60 carried by a bracket 61, and the vertical adjustment of the rod is producedby means of a hand screw 62 which extends through a screw-threaded opening in a projection 63 extending laterally from the lower bearing 60. The upper end of the hand screw .62 supports the needle structure by engaging beneath a collar 64 that is secured adjustably to the rod 57, as best shown in Fig. 6.

For producing lateral adjustment of thebracket 58 and is embraced loosely at its upper end by a square collar 66, to which the outer end of the arm 51 is attached bymeans of a hinge pin 67. The collar66 and the parts connected therewith may be adjusted laterally with relation to the bracket 58 by means of hand screws 68 and 69, which are threaded into the post 59 atright angles to each other. By turning the screw 69, the collar 66 and the arm 51 may be adjusted longitudinally, and by turning the screw'68, the arm may beadj usted transversely by a swinging movement h around the upoer end of the rod 57.

The arm 51'may be clamped in position after adjustment by means of a wing nut 7 0 threaded upon the topof the rod 57, and bearing on a clamp 71, and also by means of a wing nut 72 on t e top of the post 65. The rod 57 passes through a slot 73 in the arm 51, and when the nut is loosened to permit adjustment of the position of the needle 50, the arm 51 may slide upon or pivot around the upper end of the rod 57. In order that. the arm 51 may be swung upwardly on the hinge pin 67 without removing the nut' 70 or the'clamp 71, the nut 70 is made 5f such size that it will pass through the slot 73, and

- the clamp 71 beneath the nut 70 is of such proon th'e arm, but when the nut 70 is loosened,

the clamp may be turned lengthwise of the arm, which permits the arm to be lifted with out removing the nut or the clamp from the rod 57.

In order to prevent the rod 57 from turn ing and thereby displacing the needle, the lower end of the and is engaged in a bearing 74, carriedby the bracket 61. The post 65 may be provided with graduations, relation to thetop of the bearing 74 indicate the vertical, position of the needle 50 with respect to the) outlet 7. These graduations are preferablyarranged to indicate zero when the end of the needle is in the plane of the lower end ofthe outlet 7, and to read above and below zero.

if desired, which by their post 65 projects downwardly granted May 27, 1930, it being understood I that the similar adjustments shown in that patent are employed with a periodically reciprocating implement, while in the present case the needle does not reciprocate periodically but is merely adjustable, and remains stationary during the r-ceding operation. I I

Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing show a forehearth construction which I have found to be well adapted for use in this glass feeder. As

.there shown, the refractory walls 86 of the areenclosed in a metal jacket 81 conduit 5 which also surrounds a discharge chamber consisting of side blocks 82, an end block'83 and a hollow spout block 84 which has flanges 85 fitting within suitable recesses in the blocks 82. The gate 8 rests against the side Walls of the spout block 84, and is thereby 5 Srevented from being displaced toward the flow through the outlet uniformly and at the desired. rate, and the gate 8 is then raised s'ufiiciently to permit a suitable flow ofthe glass under the gate and into the discharge chamber. The glass in the furnace 6 should either be maintained at a heat suflicient to produce the desired viscous condition of the glass -orelse the forehearth temperature should be controlled for this purpose.

As the glass issues from the outlet 7, it is supported externally by the walls of the outlet 7 and internally by the surface of the needle-end 31, and the rate of flow through the outlet 7 is thereby reduced and equalized, produclng a uniform cylindrical discharge, this result being assisted by the heated'com d1t1on of the outlet as indicated above; The glass accumulates in a compact cylidrical mass beneath the outlet 7 in the heated cham- 'ber -16, and the possible size ofthis mass before ittends to break into stream form is materially increased by the supporting effect of the needle end 31. When the desired quan: tlty of freely suspended glass has accumus lated and elongated in this manner, amold charge lSCllt of! Bythe inward stroke of the shear blades 26' andthe mold charge falls into the mold or other rhceptacle 17.

The stationary needle has several importantgfunctions: First, it furnishes support to the interior of the issuing glass and to the glass which is depending below the outlet,

and this-.additional support, as indicated above, perm1tsthe severmg, in freely hangmg suspension, of larger and a longer ,mold

. charges than .canbe produced by simple gravlty flow without such additional support. Second, the presence of the needle tends to equalize the rate of discharge throughout the cross-section of the discharge outlet, sothat it is ,easierto obtain mold charges of substantially cylindrical form. This production of cylindrical mold charges is also aided by the presence of heat outside of the orifice.- =Third,the needle'pers mits the operation ofjthe feeding apparatus witha lower head-of glass above the outlet than would: otherwise be ssible, because if the needle omitted and llhe head of, V

in the container is too low in proportion to the size of the outlet, air will be drawn into the discharging glass in a cavity formed near the .center of the glass. The presence of the point of the supporting needle prevents such cavitation and drawing-in of air, and, therefore, permits operation with lower heads of glass, which greatly increases the range of the apparatus.

The shears 26 may suitably be arranged I for adjustment both vertically and horizontally, as shown, for example, in my United States Patent No. 1,655,391, granted J an. 3, 1928. The vertical adjustment permits severing at varying distances from the outlet, thus producing mold charges of different sizes aligliment of the shears with the outlet and compensation for any tendency of the shears to throwthe severed mold charge sidewise.

If desired, the shears may be given a dropping movement during and immediately after the shear cut, thus giving the various advantages and results obtained by dropping shears, as set forth, for, example in the U. 'S. patent to Ferngren No.1,362,785.

The use of such dropping shears also and the horizontal adjustment permits permits operation of the' present system without the use of a heated chamber, or other means, for externally heating the discharge orifice. If the shears are reciprocated horizontally without the dropping movement just not externally .heate the shears tend to chill the glass at the point of severance. In addition, the shears andparticularly the uppershear blade have a. folding or puckering action upon the chilled skin that forms upon the glass as soonas it emerges into the air. -This action tendsto smear-the glass at the discharge orific'e, and such smearing of chilled glass will soon interfere withproper feeding. If, on the other hand, the shears are given a dropping movement in connection with the severing operation, the contact between theshears and the glass is reduced to a minimum and chilled glass is not pushed or smeared across the outlet. There;

fore, the glass is'perm'itted to issue continu-' ously from the outlet without the puckermg and'smear'in effects mentioned above.

- It will be riserved that this invention provides a glass feeder which is extremely sim ple in constructionand has few moving elements, I havefound that cylindrical mold charges may be delivered in this manner referred to and if the outlet is having a length at least three times their v diameter, such mold charges being very uniform in' viscosity, and with a minimum cold skin or enamel on their surfaces. ,If cylindrical charges materially longer than three diameters are desired,-the charge as delivered'by the apparatus described above may be elongated, either bypassing through a I "table deliverytrqngh of proper size or? I am aware that it has been proposed to control the flow of lass from a discharge "opening by means a regulatin plug arranged adjustably at or above suc an opening. Regulating plugs of this nature have heretofore been used in connection with devices of the stream-feeding type, in which the glass issues from the outlet in a continuous stream which coils and folds in the mold or other receptacle, and the regulating plug performs merely the function of a throttle to determine the quantity of glass which is discharged, and to stop the flow by seating in the discharge opening when it is desired to stop the feeding operation. The use of a stationary regulator in a glass sci mold charges of molten outlet for aiding in supporting the glass in the production of freely-hanging mold charges is believe dto be new with the present invention, and also the use of such a regulator in combination with an externally heated discharge outlet,.or with descending shears,,as set forth herein.

Numerous changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from my invention, the scope of which is indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. The method of forming molten glass into mold charges, which comprises discharging molten glass through an outlet, suspending the issuing glass from the outlet in a mass additionally suspending the issuing glass at the axis of said mass without imparting motion thereto, and severing a mold charge from the suspended mass before it receives any substantial undersupport.

2. The method of forming molten glass into mold charges, which comprises discharging molten glass through an outlet, suspending the issuing glass from the outlet in a mass additionally suspending the issuing glass at the axisof said mass without impartin motion thereto, permitting the suspende mass to elongate, and severing a mold charge from the said mass before it receives any substantial undersupportl 8. The method of forming and separating glass, which com prises discharging success1ve masses of the glass through an outlet, suspending each of said masses from the outlet additionally suspending each of said masses at its axis without imparting motion thereto, and severing a mold charge from each of said suspended masses.

4. The method of feeding molten glass,

externally-heated discharge outlet, suspending a portion of the issuing glass at its axis in c said outlet without imparting motion thereto, and

severing mold charges from, the glass suspended below said outlet before it receives any substantial undersup ort.

5. The method of feeding molten glass in a succession of substantially cylindrical mold charges, which comprises the step of causing glass to flow by gravity through a downwardly-opening and externally-heated discharge outlet, suspending the issuing glass both from the outlet and at its axis in the outlet without imparting motion thereto and without reventing flow of glass through the outlet, t ereby supporting both the exterior and the interior of the issuing glass and increasing the length to which the glass will issue in cylindrical form without substantial attenuation, and thereby also equalizing the fate of flow of the glass throughout said outet. 6. The method Of'separating molten glass into mold charges, which comprises flowing the glass through a submerged outlet supporting the issued glass at its axis from above without imparting motion thereto, and severin mold charges from the issued glass.

The method of separating molten glass into mold charges, which comprises'fiowing the glass downwardly through an outlet, periodically accumulatin the issuing glass in solidmassesbelowthe outlet, suspending each of said massesboth at its axis and from the outlet without imparting motion thereto severing a mold charge from each of said masses, and moving the severing means while severing in the direction of movement of the glass at the severing point. a

8. The method of feeding molten glass, which comprises causing glass to flow by gravity through a downwardly-opening and externally-heated discharge outletsupport ing from above the, issued glass below the outlet both at its axis and from the outlet without imparting motion thereto, and

pended below said outlet.

9. The method of feeding molten glass, which comprises causing glass to flow by gravity through a downwardly-opening discharge outlet su porting the issued glass from above both a its axis and from the outlet without imparting motion thereto, severing mold'charges from the glass suspended below said outlet, and causing the severing means to descend after the severing operation.

10. The method of feeding molten glass, which comprises causing glass to flow by gravity through a downwardly-opening dis charge outlet suspending the issuing glass at its axis'in the outlet and from the outlet without imparting motion thereto and with-- out preventing flow of glass through the outlet, severing mold charges from the glass suspended belo'w said outlet, and causing the severing means to descend during and after the severing operation.

11. In' apparatus for separating" molten glass into mold charges, the combination, with a-container for the glass havin indischarge outlet below the surface leve of the glass, of shear blades adapted to. meet beneath the outlet to sever masses of the glass suspended therebeneath,.and a stationary implement having its lower end portion terminating in a centrally disposed projection of relatively small cross sectional area depending in the outlet without completely obstructmg the outlet, for aiding in supportingv successive suspended .massesof glass beneath said outlet. v

12. Apparatus for separating molten glass into mold charges, including a container for the glass having a discharge outlet, a stationary implement having its lower end portion reduced in size to form an extension of relatively small cross sectional area, said extension projecting downwardly from the implementinto said outlet in spaced relation to the walls of said outlet, for supporting, guiding and accumulating .in suspended masses the glass'discharged from said outlet, and shears beneath the said outlet for severing mold charges from the suspended masses. 13. Apparatus for-separating molten glass into mold charges, comprising a container for the glass. having a submerged outlet, avertically and laterally adjustable normally stationary implement having a lower end portion reduced in size to form an extension of relatively small cross sectional area, said extension pro ectmg Into sa1d outlet out of:con-

tact withthewalls of the outlet, andshears for severing mold charges from the glass below said outlet.

14. Apparatus for separating molten glass into mold charges, including a container for the glass having a discharge outlet, a stationary member having a lower endportion' of relatively small crosssectional area, said lower portion-projecting downwardly into said outlet and out ofcontact with the walls 16. Apparatus' forsegregating molten projecting. into said outlet and out of contact therewith, and means for severing mold charges from the glass discharged from said Outlet.

comprising a container for the glass having a downwardly opening discharge .outlet, means for externally heating said outlet, a stationary vertical flow-regulating member 17. Apparatus for feeding molten glass having a shoulder portion adjacent to the bottom wall of the container and above the outlet, the lower extremity of said shoulder portion terminating in a relatively long narrow projection extending into said outlet in spaced relation to the walls of the outlet, means for adjusting the' vertical position of said member, and means for severing mold I charges from the glass below the outlet.

18. Apparatus for feeding molten glass comprising a container for the glass having a downwardly-opening discharge outlet, means for externally heating said outlet, a normally stationary vertical flow-regulating memher having a lower end of relatively small cross-sectional area adjustably positioned in said outlet andhaving, above said lower end,

an enlarged portion adapted to throttle said outlet and to seat in said outlet-on downward movement of the" throttling member to stop the flow of the glass therethrough and means for severing mold charges from the glass below said outlet. r I A igned at Hartford, Conn, this 30th day of O 0 er, 1924. i

justing the said member vertically and late erally with respect to said outlet, and shears beneath said outlet for severing mold'charges' from the suspended masses of glass.

. 1a The combination with a container for molten lass having .a discharge "outlet, of

means or separating the glass into mold charges, comprising a heating chamber sur-.

-. rounding the said outlet and the glass. discharged therefrom, a stationary implement having at its lower end a shoulder 'rtiomadjacentto the bottom walls o'f'sai ,conta ner and terminating in a long narrow; projection Q extending into said outlet but out'iof contact-1 withthe wallsthereof, and severing meangg the glass' adapted to sever mold charges'from discharged from said outlet.

KARL E. PE ii-inn. 

